I wanted to write an inbox of this particular set months
ago, so long in fact, that I even managed to paint all these miniatures, which
is kinda rare for me. Very rare, one might even add. Well, as it turns out,
this delay may even be a good thing, as the description will be more measured.

North-star Military Figures is a largish British company,
wholesaler of many wargaming products and a producer of its own miniatures.
Company is based in the wargaming British heaven – Nottingham. North-star is
making official miniatures for some of the Osprey Publishing’s wargames. „Ronin”
is one of these games, skirmish set in the Age of the Samurai.

This is a inbox of „Ronin02 Bandit Buntai” set, made
specifically for „Ronin”. Miniatures are perfect for other games set in this
period of course.

Miniatures are packed inside esthetic plastic box, which is,
in fact, a case for four DVDs. Box is wrapped in full color cover, depicting one
of the miniatures on front and whole group on the back. This cover got two
sides, to be honest, as the inner side is used as a cover of „Monk Buntai”.
Small advert for other sets of „Ronin” miniatures was tucked in the box too.
Figures were put in a foil bag, which was, in turn, protected by a piece of
bubble foil.

Set of „Bandit buntai” consists of ten 28 mm „heroic” scale miniatures casted
in metal.We have got following miniatures: leader armed with sword wearing
heavy armour, ronin armed with nodachi nad heavy armour, lieutenant armed with
naginata and medium armour, lieutenant armed with toppo wearing medium armour,
bandit with yumi and light armour, two bandits with yaris and light armours,
bandit with teppo and light armour and two peasants armed with improvised
weapons (farm implements). Descriptions of armour are made with „Ronin” rules
in mind. In reality difference between medium armour of lieutenant armed with
naginata and the unarmoured peasant simply doesn’t exist. Polearms are casted
separately (which I think is a very good thing). Assembling miniatures was easy, one just have to
make sure that poles are straight after being set in the hands of figures.

Poses and overall look of the miniatures is clearly visible
on photos. In my opinion they are a bit on the static side and are not overly detailed.
Bear in mind, that this is not a bad thing – it speeds up painting a lot. All
poses are different and this is a good thing too – nothing worse then a small
group of miniatures being almost clones, especially in skirmish games. I was
positively suprised by faces too – all are cleanly sculpted, have good details
and take paints very well. Overall quality of the cast is average in my
opinion. Some surfaces are clearly rough, mould lines are present on all miniatures.
Metal used in production is rather soft (not too soft) so cleaning mould lines
is not a problem though. Unfortunately, this relative softness of the metal makes
polearms a little too prone for bending. My biggest gripe is with blades
though. All of them (and I mean literally all of them, on all miniatures armed
with weapons with blades) were really bad – miscasted, VERY rough, with holes.
Definitely the worst aspect of these miniatures.

I think this is solid „C” quality set (using British school grades). Definitely
on par with products of such companies as Perry Miniatures or Foundry. I plan
to expand my buntai a little more and I think next miniatures will be from
North-star too.